Readers Write: (Sept. 13): Transit hub, Totino-Grace, government 'rigmarole,' the Wilfs

A few years ago, Target paid millions for naming rights to the new Twins ballpark, yet a Sept. 12 article ("Target Field transit station will be like Grand Central") does not indicate that the corporation will pay any additional money for an adjacent transit hub to be called "Target Field Station." Did the original deal on naming rights include a future transit hub, or only the stadium? If the latter is true, it would appear that Target is getting a "twofer."

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What a shame it is that the new Minnesota Vikings stadium will not be part of this wonderfully innovative center of activity. I have always thought the Farmers Market location was the best place for the stadium, and with the addition of the interchange transit hub, my convictions are that much stronger.

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Calling the hub "Minnesota's version of New York City's Grand Central Station" is remarkably naive and unfair. The newly refurbished Union Depot transit hub in St. Paul is light years ahead of what anything Minneapolis has to offer.

For instance, it provides a year-round, climate-controlled environment, in a magnificent neoclassical building replete with restaurants and other amenities — all under one highly ornate roof.

Minneapolis's version is more like the Blue Line Lake Street station: an elevated bus/rail hub open to frigid winter winds and sticky summer humidity. The emperor indeed has no clothes (and will certainly need winter woolies in Minneapolis).

Its mission statement says that "we seek to provide a safe environment that places priority on mutual respect, self-discipline, and acknowledgment of our responsibility in the world community."

Its diversity statement says: that the "Diversity and Inclusion Program is designed to both support students from culturally diverse groups as well as work with the entire community of students and staff to become more welcoming of diversity and more inclusive of all people regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, academic ability, sexual orientation, or economics."

Even its statement about being a Catholic high school in the Lasallian tradition says: "We are committed to create and sustain respectful human relationships in community."

These statements are patently false and may lead parents of prospective students to expect Totino-Grace to be an open and safe place to send their children for a quality education when, in fact, the school is dedicated to teaching — by example — the worst prejudices and biases promoted by the archdiocese.

I, too, have been in a position that required a lot of detailed paperwork submitted to the government ("How job creators get rigmaroled over," Sept. 11). It could seem onerous at times, but I recognize the need for oversight, since people are not always honest or altruistic. My reaction to John Kalan's list of "hoops" he has to jump through was to think of the flip side of his objections. An excerpted version would go something like this:

3)  I don't want to pay taxes.

4)  Everyone should be on their own for health care.

6)  Commercial drivers should not have to be checked for health conditions that could endanger others' lives.

7)  Employees should guess what my rules are.

8)  I should be able to take advantage of a desperate individual who needs money by allowing them to work many hours per week without paying overtime.

1)  I am not responsible for unsafe working conditions.

2)  I don't want to pay taxes.

3)  I don't want to pay taxes.

6)  I don't want to pay taxes.

8)  I should not have to ensure that there are no fire hazards at my business.

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Kalan asks: "Why am I doing this with my life?" Well, it's a free market, and his competitors face the same 21 issues. The issues create level playing fields while benefiting society at large, and if his competitors get past the issues and price their services lower than he, he won't have to answer the question. The market will.

When a poor family asks the state or county for some help with medical bills or food and rent, their assets and wages are investigated. The Wilf family is demanding (and receiving) a half-billion dollar handout from the state and Minneapolis, so I don't think it's too much to ask for some transparency about their assets ("Wilfs argue against release of financial data," Sept. 10).